Shale revolution on a limb, only 11 fracking projects active in UK

The UK’s shale gas ‘revolution’ doesn’t seem to have lived up to its hype, after it was revealed only 11 new exploratory wells are due to be drilled this year, despite the continued fall of oil prices.

UK Prime Minister David
Cameron has said his government is pushing for a “shale gas
revolution,” although only a handful have been confirmed as
candidates for fracking, according to official government
statements.

Energy firms involved in fracking projects claim the government
statements were ‘speculative’ and that suggestions the UK could
rely on shale gas for up to thirty years was
“optimistic.”

“Given the low number of wells that have been drilled in the
UK, and the very low level of experience of shale gas production
here, it is far too early to say how much shale gas could be
produced,” said Professor Jim Watson, research director at
the UK Energy Research Centre.

“The Prime Minister’s statement that shale could provide gas
for the UK ‘perhaps for as long as 30 years’ is therefore very
speculative and optimistic.”

The push to use shale gas has been advocated by both the Prime
Minister and Chancellor George Osborne, who claimed in 2014 the
energy held “huge potential” for the UK economy, and had
provided tax incentives for energy companies to carry out
fracking projects.

However, the trade body representing fracking firms, United
Kingdom Onshore Oil and Gas (Ukoog) and the department for Energy
and Climate Change admitted they did not keep records on the
progress of planned shale projects. The sites selected come via
an investigation by the Guardian newspaper alongside companies
awarded fracking contracts.

Despite this, shale gas is expected to dominate oil and gas
contracts in 2015, with giants including Caudrilla, Total and
Centrica expected to bid for new contracts later in the year.

Last year, government researchers claimed politicians had
“overhyped” the energy potential of shale gas.

According to research produced in November by the UK Energy
Research Centre (UKERC), shale gas was “unlikely” to be
a primary resource of energy within the next 10 years, and that
traditional energy sources such as oil would still play a key
role for future generations.